Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Approves Projects for Stimulus Funds

The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors has voted to modify a list of transportation projects eligible for about $5.3 million in federal stimulus funds to include several projects that will improve safety and increase energy efficiency.

The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) has solicited projects from localities to be funded with the localities’ share of the regional federal stimulus funds. The Board earlier approved improvement to Waxpool Road and a queue warning system at Route 28 and Waxpool Road. The new Loudoun projects, which will be supervised by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), are:

• Replacement of more than 2,000 incandescent bulbs in all traffic signals with more visible LED bulbs which will reduce electricity usage and costs as the bulbs will only need to be replaced every 7 to 10 years instead of annually.
• Replacing about 250 existing standard pedestrian signal devices with countdown devices, which will improve safety.
• Installing Uninterrupted Power Supply systems in traffic signals at major intersections, which will allow the signals to continue to function when power has been lost to storms, accidents or construction.
• Pavement markings and refurbishment, which will improve safety.

The timelines associated with the use of the stimulus funds require that the $5.3 million allocated for use in Loudoun County must be obligated by VDOT for expenditure by February 2010.

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19 Bridges in Loudoun County Need Work, but Only Two Will Get Stimulus Money

According to a published report in the Loudoun Times-Mirror, Loudoun County will receive about $1.5 million in federal funding for the Sand Branch bridge on Route 609 (Pleasant Valley Road) near Round Hill and the Butchers Creek bridge on Route 719 (Airmont Road) in southern Loudoun near the Prince William County line.

Although the state has identified 19 bridges in Loudoun as needing care, these are the only two that will receive federal stimulus funding.

"State bridge inspectors, he said, rank each bridge's condition on a 9 to 0 scale, with 9 being excellent and 0 being a failed bridge. The two Loudoun bridges getting federal funding received a 4 – a poor ranking -- from state inspectors.

"The lowest ranking given to a bridge in Loudoun was a 3, or serious. This ranking was applied to the bridge near the Bull Run Post Office Road at the southern tip of Loudoun, and another off Loyalty Road near Taylorstown in the Lovettsville area."

Photo courtesy of the Loudoun Times-Mirror.

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Waxpool Road at 28 Will be Beneficiary of Federal Stimulus Money

According to media reports, Loudoun County will receive $6.325 million in its share of a $53 million federal stimulus package earmarked for regional transportation improvements.

"And at Tuesday's Board of Supervisors meeting, county transportation director Terrie Laycock said that Loudoun County would use $5.3 million of its share of the funds for upgrades toward the Waxpool Road at Church Road interchange," that according to the Loudoun Extra.

The Extra reports that the "rest of the money would go toward projects in the towns of Leesburg and Purcellville. Leesburg would receive $900,000 toward the first phase of the South King Street widening project. Purcellville would net $125,000 to upgrade the sidewalks that are part of the Maple and Main streets project. Improvements to the Waxpool Road bottleneck include the closure of a median break near Loudoun County Parkway, traffic signal modifications, extensions and additions of turn lanes and the installation of a variable message board."

The Loudoun Times also covered the story as well.

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Loudoun County Seeks Share of Stimulus Money for Various Projects

According to the Dulles Area Transportation Association, Loudoun County officials are combing through the federal government's stimulus package to see what if any public infrastructure projects in the county might be eligible for.

The DATA reports, "The wish list approved by supervisors last month totaled $744 million and included many road and school construction projects, such as $91.2 million to widen Route 659 between Route 7 and the Dulles Greenway, $83 million to build Tuscarora High School and $70.6 million to build Woodgrove High School. County staff members said they expect to have enough information by next month to brief supervisors on which projects are likely to receive federal stimulus funds."

"Loudoun's share of transportation aid will depend on whether the money goes through the state or is distributed directly to regional planning districts."

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